Nicola Sturgeon will resign from Holyrood.

Nicola Sturgeon, the former First Minister of Scotland(MSP).

Nicola Sturgeon will resign from Holyrood, former SNP leader confirmed she would not seek re-election in the Holyrood election. Scheduled for next year.

In a statement published on social media, she expressed that making this decision had been “far from easy.” She added, “However, I have known in my heart that the time is right for me to embrace different opportunities. In a new chapter of my life and to allow you to select a new standard bearer.”

Sturgeon resigned as First Minister in March 2023 after serving in the role for eight years. She is Scotland’s longest-serving First Minister and the first woman to hold the position.

Her resignation as party leader began a tumultuous period for her and the SNP. In June 2023, she was arrested and released without charge, as part of a police investigation into SNP finances. Maintaining that she had done nothing wrong.

Her husband, Peter Murrell, who had long served as the SNP’s chief executive, has since been charged with embezzling SNP funds. In January, Sturgeon announced that they had decided to end their marriage.

The Glasgow Southside MSP is one of the original MSPs elected in 1999.

In her letter to constituents, she emphasized the policies introduced during her time in office. Such as the Scottish Child Payment and the expansion of early years education.

She stated, “I joined the SNP in 1986 because I wanted to play my part in building a fair and prosperous Scotland. And I have also dedicated my life to that task ever since.

“I believed then that winning our country’s independence, was essential for Scotland to reach its full potential. And I still believe that.

“Although I am preparing to step away from elected politics. I hope to contribute in different ways to making that ambition a reality.”

Sturgeon succeeded Alex Salmond as the SNP leader and First Minister in 2014. The long-time friends remained close allies until their fallout over her government’s mishandling of harassment complaints against him.

Salmond passed away at the age of 69 while attending a conference in North Macedonia in October 2024. Sturgeon did not attend his funeral or memorial service.

She led the SNP to a series of election victories at the UK, Scottish, and local levels. Including a historic landslide in the 2015 general election, where the party won 56 out of 59 seats in Scotland.

In 2022, the UK Supreme Court ruled, that the Scottish Parliament did not have the power to stage another independence referendum. A move that was also blocked by the UK government.

Sturgeon was succeeded by Humza Yousaf as First Minister, but he served for only a year. He stepped down in April after deciding to dissolve a power-sharing agreement, with the Scottish Greens. Which resulted in him facing a vote of no confidence.

In December last year, Yousaf announced that he would not stand for re-election, as an MSP in the 2026 Holyrood election. Following Sturgeon’s latest announcement about her departure. Yousaf posted on social media: “I am excited to see what Nicola does next. She is one of the most talented politicians of our generation. I am grateful for her advice, trust, and friendship. With every good wish, Nicola Sturgeon.”

Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s longest-serving First Minister, has announced that she will step down as an MSP. The former SNP leader confirmed she would not seek re-election in the Holyrood election scheduled for May next year. In a statement published on social media, she expressed that making the decision was “far from easy.” She added.

“However, I have known in my heart that the time is right for me to embrace different opportunities in a new chapter of my life, and to allow you to select a new standard bearer.”

Sturgeon resigned as First Minister in March 2023 after serving for eight years. She made history as Scotland’s longest-serving First Minister and the first woman to hold the position. Her resignation as party leader ushered in a tumultuous period for both her and the SNP; in June 2023, she was arrested and released without charge as part of a police investigation into SNP finances. She maintains that she has done nothing wrong. Her husband, Peter Murrell, who served as the SNP’s chief executive for a long time, has since been charged with embezzling SNP funds. In January, Sturgeon announced that she and Murrell had separated.

The Glasgow Southside MSP has been one of the original MSPs elected since 1999. In her letter to constituents, she highlighted key policies she introduced during office, such as the Scottish Child Payment and expanded early years education. She stated, “I joined the SNP in 1986 because I wanted to play my part in building a fair and prosperous Scotland, and I have dedicated my life to that task ever since. I believed then that winning our country’s independence was essential to Scotland reaching her full potential, and I still do. Even though I am preparing to leave elected politics, I hope to contribute in different ways to making that ambition a reality.”

Sturgeon succeeded Alex Salmond as SNP leader and First Minister in 2014. They remained close allies until their fallout over the government’s mishandling of harassment complaints against him. Salmond passed away at 69 while attending a conference in North Macedonia in October 2024. Sturgeon did not attend his funeral or memorial service.

Sturgeon led the SNP to numerous victories in UK, Scottish, and local elections, including a historic landslide in the 2015 general election, where the party won 56 out of 59 seats in Scotland. In 2022, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the Scottish Parliament did not have the authority to hold another independence referendum, a decision blocked by the UK government.

After Yousaf stepped down, Sturgeon’s deputy, John Swinney, became First Minister. However, after a disappointing performance in July’s general election, support for the SNP has stabilised in the polls. Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton stated that her party wishes any departing MSP well, “but we cannot forge ahead without a response to the substantial challenges facing Scotland.”